Lead role in 'In the Heights' a dream come true for actor

What could be better than landing the lead in a national touring
show? How about making your debut in the town where your family
lives?

Yes, actor Joseph Morales' dream is coming true in a big
way.

Until a year ago, Morales' resume contained only a few major
professional credits. He appeared off-Broadway in "Henry and
Mudge," and toured in "Bombay Dreams" and "Rock of Ages."

He started out in the ensemble of the national tour for "In the
Heights," and one night he went on in the role of Sonny. The
director saw him and bumped him up to the part in the L.A. company.
The actor playing Sonny traditionally understudies the lead
character, Usnavi, too.

In the L.A. production, Lin-Manuel Miranda is playing Usnavi,
the part he created on Broadway. Miranda is also the show's Tony
Award-winning composer and lyricist. That meant that Morales was
now Miranda's understudy.

"This has been huge for me," said Morales. " It's pretty
unbelievable, because it's rare for a company to bump an understudy
up. But I decided I was going to fight for it."

"In the Heights" is a tapestry of a musical that interweaves a
variety of musical styles (hip-hop, salsa, rap, soul and merengue)
as a large cast of characters lives out three days in the racially
diverse Washington Heights community of New York City. The show was
nominated for 13 Tonys and won for Best Musical.

Usnavi, who owns a neighborhood bodega (convenience store)
dreams of leaving the Heights for his parents' native Dominican
Republic, and he pines for flirty, uptown-bound beautician Vanessa.
Meanwhile, his Puerto Rican neighbors Kevin and Camila may be
forced to sell their taxi business to pay the tuition for their
brainy daughter Nina's education at Stanford. Vandals destroy
Usnavi's store and Nina's future seems all but lost, but Usnavi's
grandmother is hiding a valuable secret ---- a lottery ticket that
could solve all of their problems.

The heart and soul of the story is Usnavi, the role Morales will
now play on the national tour.

"This is one of those roles that comes around once in a
lifetime," said Morales. "It's a part I can put my whole heart
into."

Watching Miranda perform the role has helped Morales be ready
for this opportunity.

"Lin has been an open book for me." he said. "We do the show
together every night. He wrote the role, and as I watch him, I can
see his intentions. He's also been helping me with the raps by
making me freestyle with him, which I've failed miserably. It's
just something he's brilliant at."

Morales isn't the only "In the Heights" cast member with a local
connection. Ensemble member Morgan Matayoshi was born and raised in
Vista.

Matayoshi started performing at Vista's Moonlight Amphitheatre
at age 8 and studied ballet at Janice Lee's ballet school in
Encinitas. After graduating as valedictorian from Guajome Park
Academy in Vista, she went on to graduate from Boston University
and has been working as a dancer, actress and singer in Los Angeles
ever since. She's booked with the "In the Heights" tour through
October and is looking forward to visiting with her family, which
now lives in Fallbrook, when she's in town next week.

While the story is about a Dominican-American neighborhood,
Morales thinks it speaks to everyone.

"This story is so universal," he said. "It's really the American
story, because we're all immigrants. The story is really hundreds
of stories about going back to our roots and how everyone's story
affects one another."

Morales will begin playing Usnavi in San Diego. Even though he
spent much of his childhood in Hawaii and now makes New York City
his home, much of his family now lives in San Diego. They will all
be there when he steps into the leading role, and that fits the
show's theme as well.

"This show is about family and who you are and where you came
from," he said. "It's about being proud of who you are and being
proud of the legacy you leave behind."